BITS & PIECES

Ongoing Tale rides off into the sunset ...

Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Today we offer the entire text of the 10-part Ongoing Tale written completely by readers of this column. Authors of various 100-word chunks are: Cindy Bryan, Stone Creek in Ocala (four episodes); Mollie Richards, Ocala (three episodes); Lee Endicott, Oak Run; Diana Ray, Ocala; and Genie Wellisch, Ocala. Today’s conclusion was written by Bryan. Congratulations and thanks go out to each of you!

***

Janie punched the snooze alarm, but thought about being late for work again and got out of bed. She put on her robe and slippers and went outside to get the newspaper.

Heading down the front steps, she stopped in her tracks. In her front yard stood a painted horse, in fact the same one she had seen yesterday in front of her lawyer’s office.

“I must be dreaming,” she said. She picked up the paper and turned to go back inside. That’s when she saw the message scrawled across her front door, “Be at Citizens’ Circle at noon.”

Janie ripped the cardboard sign that displayed the message off her front door.

She glanced down the street, hoping none of the neighbors had seen it in the dawning light.

As she entered the house, her heart was pounding and her stomach churning with fear.

“Someone knows,” Janie whispered to herself.

Reluctantly, she forced herself to get ready for work.

It had been difficult going to the office this week acting like everything was “normal.”

Now she needed to call the attorney to tell him about his horse statue.

Arriving at work, Janie wondered, “Which co-worker knows my secret?”

Janie’s co-workers were preoccupied and no one looked up to greet her. She settled into her desk chair and got to work.

A little before noon, she left the office for the short walk to Citizens’ Circle. Janie scanned the area, but didn’t see anyone waiting for her. She turned and almost ran into Ted, the chief financial officer of her company.

Ted discreetly pushed a small gun into her side and said, “I need those files back you took from the office yesterday.”

She said, “My lawyer has them.”

He laughed and replied, “Don’t you think I know that?”

“Well,” she answered, “if you know where the files are you know what is in them. And, if I were you, I’d put that gun out of sight!”

Ted wanted to strangle her. She knew too much. He put the gun in his coat pocket and winced as a police car went by.

Looking back at Ted over the withers of the painted horse, Janie knew she couldn’t be too truthful to anyone about the files. She had removed any trace of her own involvement.

After tapping the horse rapidly with her finger, and easing her nerves, she left.

Janie mulled over a plan while walking back to the office.

Ted had sped off in his red sports car in the opposite direction.

She knew the lawyer said to give him a few days, but since Ted had learned about it, they needed to act quickly.

Janie went to see her manager, feigning an upset stomach so she could leave.

She headed across town without an appointment.

As she parked, tires squealed around the corner.

It was Ted’s car. Janie watched the lawyer’s blond secretary emerge from the passenger’s seat, laughing and blowing Ted a kiss.

The snitch!

Janie was still wiping tears from her cheeks as she left the lawyer’s private office and entered the reception area.

“The Snitch” peered over her computer monitor, listening to Janie’s sniveling apology to the attorney. “Thank you again for being so understanding. I’m sorry I wasted your time about this. I’ll just take these back to the office. It’s OK that you didn’t have time to look at them.”

Janie switched the stack of files to her other arm as she turned the front door knob.

Getting into her car, Janie burst out laughing. “You’ll all get what you deserve!”

She was still excited. Janie hoped her acting was believable. There was a lot at stake.

She realized she hadn’t eaten lunch. She really would have an upset stomach if she didn’t get something soon.

She pulled into the parking area. Adjusting the radio and sipping her soda, she didn’t notice the uniformed figure until a hand covered her mouth.

“Jeez, Matt! You trying to scare me to death?” Janie cried out.

“Just teasing you,” he chuckled.

What’s up with the outfit?” Janie eyed the insignia on his shirt.

“Well, the boss decided I should infiltrate the company, too. So, this is my ‘Ace Security’ uniform. I’ll pick up the rest of the evidence tonight and we’ll be ready for the big show tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan. Here’s the files. See you in the morning.”

Janie headed home.

Tired and distracted, looking at her mail, Janie didn’t notice the person approaching as she unlocked her front door.

The Snitch pushed a gun into Janie’s back, followed her into the house, and closed the door.

“Give me the files,” said the Snitch.

“A friend has the files,” said Janie, “and tomorrow morning, Ted’s going to be charged with embezzlement and fraud.”

“Ted needs that money so he can divorce his wife and marry me,” said the Snitch.

Janie said, “How dare he steal from a children’s charity for you!”

The Snitch said, “Oh, like you’re Miss Innocent.”

Janie said, “I didn’t understand what was going on. When I figured it out, I knew I had to expose him.”

Janie’s front door flew open and four deputies poured into the house, followed by Matt.

Janie grabbed the gun from her lawyer’s secretary. One of the deputies cuffed the Snitch, and Matt ran to Janie’s side.

Matt said, “Are you OK? I followed you home and saw the whole thing. I called the police from my cellphone. Deputies are paying a visit to Ted right now, too.”

Janie said, “Guess you’re my hero, Ace Security Man.”

Matt said, “Let’s get everything to the district attorney right now …”

Janie finished, “… and ride off into the sunset on a painted horse!”

***

OFF WE GO INTO ...: Summerfield’s Jerry T. Corr wrote: “If it’s possible would you please put a short sentence about the United States Air Force’s 66th birthday that will happen tomorrow, Sept. 18? I will be displaying my small United States flags on that day around my lawn, and invite everyone else to do the same.”

<p>Today we offer the entire text of the 10-part Ongoing Tale written completely by readers of this column. Authors of various 100-word chunks are: <b>Cindy Bryan</b>, Stone Creek in Ocala (four episodes); <b>Mollie Richards</b>, Ocala (three episodes); <b>Lee Endicott</b>, Oak Run; <b>Diana Ray</b>, Ocala; and <b>Genie Wellisch</b>, Ocala. Today's conclusion was written by Bryan. Congratulations and thanks go out to each of you!</p><p><CENTER>***</CENTER></p><p>Janie punched the snooze alarm, but thought about being late for work again and got out of bed. She put on her robe and slippers and went outside to get the newspaper.</p><p>Heading down the front steps, she stopped in her tracks. In her front yard stood a painted horse, in fact the same one she had seen yesterday in front of her lawyer's office.</p><p>“I must be dreaming,” she said. She picked up the paper and turned to go back inside. That's when she saw the message scrawled across her front door, “Be at Citizens' Circle at noon.”</p><p>Janie ripped the cardboard sign that displayed the message off her front door.</p><p>She glanced down the street, hoping none of the neighbors had seen it in the dawning light.</p><p>As she entered the house, her heart was pounding and her stomach churning with fear.</p><p>“Someone knows,” Janie whispered to herself.</p><p>Reluctantly, she forced herself to get ready for work.</p><p>It had been difficult going to the office this week acting like everything was “normal.”</p><p>Now she needed to call the attorney to tell him about his horse statue.</p><p>Arriving at work, Janie wondered, “Which co-worker knows my secret?”</p><p>Janie's co-workers were preoccupied and no one looked up to greet her. She settled into her desk chair and got to work.</p><p>A little before noon, she left the office for the short walk to Citizens' Circle. Janie scanned the area, but didn't see anyone waiting for her. She turned and almost ran into Ted, the chief financial officer of her company.</p><p>Ted discreetly pushed a small gun into her side and said, “I need those files back you took from the office yesterday.”</p><p>She said, “My lawyer has them.”</p><p>He laughed and replied, “Don't you think I know that?”</p><p>“Well,” she answered, “if you know where the files are you know what is in them. And, if I were you, I'd put that gun out of sight!”</p><p>Ted wanted to strangle her. She knew too much. He put the gun in his coat pocket and winced as a police car went by.</p><p>Looking back at Ted over the withers of the painted horse, Janie knew she couldn't be too truthful to anyone about the files. She had removed any trace of her own involvement.</p><p>After tapping the horse rapidly with her finger, and easing her nerves, she left.</p><p>Janie mulled over a plan while walking back to the office.</p><p>Ted had sped off in his red sports car in the opposite direction.</p><p>She knew the lawyer said to give him a few days, but since Ted had learned about it, they needed to act quickly.</p><p>Janie went to see her manager, feigning an upset stomach so she could leave.</p><p>She headed across town without an appointment.</p><p>As she parked, tires squealed around the corner.</p><p>It was Ted's car. Janie watched the lawyer's blond secretary emerge from the passenger's seat, laughing and blowing Ted a kiss.</p><p>The snitch!</p><p>Janie was still wiping tears from her cheeks as she left the lawyer's private office and entered the reception area.</p><p>“The Snitch” peered over her computer monitor, listening to Janie's sniveling apology to the attorney. “Thank you again for being so understanding. I'm sorry I wasted your time about this. I'll just take these back to the office. It's OK that you didn't have time to look at them.”</p><p>Janie switched the stack of files to her other arm as she turned the front door knob.</p><p>Getting into her car, Janie burst out laughing. “You'll all get what you deserve!”</p><p>She was still excited. Janie hoped her acting was believable. There was a lot at stake.</p><p>She realized she hadn't eaten lunch. She really would have an upset stomach if she didn't get something soon.</p><p>Janie made a quick phone call while at a nearby drive-thru.</p><p>“I'll meet you at the Land Bridge in half an hour.”</p><p>Car window down, radio blasting and finishing the chicken sandwich, Janie tried to relax.</p><p>She pulled into the parking area. Adjusting the radio and sipping her soda, she didn't notice the uniformed figure until a hand covered her mouth.</p><p>“Jeez, Matt! You trying to scare me to death?” Janie cried out.</p><p>“Just teasing you,” he chuckled.</p><p>What's up with the outfit?” Janie eyed the insignia on his shirt.</p><p>“Well, the boss decided I should infiltrate the company, too. So, this is my 'Ace Security' uniform. I'll pick up the rest of the evidence tonight and we'll be ready for the big show tomorrow.”</p><p>“Sounds like a plan. Here's the files. See you in the morning.”</p><p>Janie headed home.</p><p>Tired and distracted, looking at her mail, Janie didn't notice the person approaching as she unlocked her front door.</p><p>The Snitch pushed a gun into Janie's back, followed her into the house, and closed the door.</p><p>“Give me the files,” said the Snitch.</p><p>“A friend has the files,” said Janie, “and tomorrow morning, Ted's going to be charged with embezzlement and fraud.”</p><p>“Ted needs that money so he can divorce his wife and marry me,” said the Snitch.</p><p>Janie said, “How dare he steal from a children's charity for you!”</p><p>The Snitch said, “Oh, like you're Miss Innocent.”</p><p>Janie said, “I didn't understand what was going on. When I figured it out, I knew I had to expose him.”</p><p>Janie's front door flew open and four deputies poured into the house, followed by Matt.</p><p>Janie grabbed the gun from her lawyer's secretary. One of the deputies cuffed the Snitch, and Matt ran to Janie's side.</p><p>Matt said, “Are you OK? I followed you home and saw the whole thing. I called the police from my cellphone. Deputies are paying a visit to Ted right now, too.”</p><p>Janie said, “Guess you're my hero, Ace Security Man.”</p><p>Matt said, “Let's get everything to the district attorney right now …”</p><p>Janie finished, “… and ride off into the sunset on a painted horse!”</p><p><CENTER>***</CENTER></p><p><b>OFF WE GO INTO ...:</b> Summerfield's <b>Jerry T. Corr</b> wrote: “If it's possible would you please put a short sentence about the United States Air Force's 66th birthday that will happen tomorrow, Sept. 18? I will be displaying my small United States flags on that day around my lawn, and invite everyone else to do the same.”</p>